Split blade for air and steam turbines



Sept. 5, 1950 F. A. MILLER 2,521,595

SPLIT BLADE FOR AIR AND STEAM TURBINES Filed Sept. 3, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

1 7077 ZQQ/YM'ZZ A'ITDRN EYE P 1950 F. A. MILLER I 2,521,595

SPLIT BLADE FOR AIR AND STEAM TURBINES Filed Sept. 3, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IISISISUSISLW ATTCI RN EYS Patented Sept. 5, 1950 untrso STATES FATE semi. BLADE FOR AIR .AND' STEAM TURBINES Frank Alden Miller, Buffalo; Ne 35., assignon'to: Buffalo Machinery Company Incorporated. Buiialo, a corporation of: New York ApplieatiomSeptember 3, 1947'; Serial No; 771*,84'5

1 Glttiim (Cl. 103-436.)

. I This'invention relates to rotary-engines; pumps, or turbines of the type having radially slidable blades. in an eccentricallymounted rotor. with the blades. actuated outwardby. centrifrugatforce in combination with compressed" fluid from an oppositely positioned blade acting against the inner end of a blade, and in particular the invention relates to split blades or blades formed of two plates having intermediate sockets with springs in the sockets urging one plate toward one end of the rotor and the other toward the other end thereby providing a positive seal between the ends of the rotor and housing.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for providing a positive seal between the ends of a rotor or of blades thereof of a rotary engine and the ends of a housing thereof.

It has always been a problem to pack or seal surfaces in sliding engagement and for this reason rotary engines do not reach a high degree of efficiency. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates means for constantly urging the ends of a blade of a rotor of a rotary engine against both ends of the housing of the engme.

The object of this invention is to provide means wherein a single spring may be used to urge two sliding parallel sections of a blade of a rotor outward toward the ends of the rotor to seal the area between the ends of the rotor and a surrounding housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for urging sections of a rotor blade toward the ends of the rotor which functions continuously as the rotor rotates.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for urging sections of a rotor blade toward the ends of a rotor that may be incorporated in rotors now in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for urging parallel sections of a rotor blade toward opposite ends of a rotor which is comparatively simple and inexpensive.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing a cross section through the turbine and rotor.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the turbine with parts shown in elevation,

Figure 3'is a detaillsliowi-nga sectionatlirough the'blades -with parts oftl-i e rotor-and housing also shown in section;

l igure 4-is a' detail showing one at the-sect" ns of one oftheblades.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts the improved rotor blade of this invention includes two substantially complementary plates Ill and II, one of the plates being illustrated in Figure 4, and these plates are provided with elongated slots l2 and 13 that are spaced from the inner edges thereof. The plates are positioned in radially disposed slots ll of a rotor l5 and with a spring l6 positioned in the slots as shown in Figure 3 one end of the plate In is resiliently held against one end ll of the inner housing It! and the opposite end of the plate H is urged against the opposite end 19 of the housing providing means for constantly urging the opposite ends of a blade against the ends of an enclosing housing.

The split or double blade of this invention may be used in rotors of rotary turbines, engines, pumps and the like where the outer edge of the blade is in wiping contact with the inner surface of a surrounding housing, and the blades may be actuated outward by mechanical or centrifugal means, and in the design shown openings 20 are provided through the core of the rotor so that as one blade is forced inward fluid behind the inner edge thereof is forced through the opening thereby providing compression behind the blade on the opposite side.

In the design shown the rotor is mounted on a shaft 2| which is rotatably mounted in bushings 22 and 23 providing bearings in the ends of an outer housing 24, and the outer housing may be provided with an end plate 25. The housing is formed with an inlet connection 26 and an outlet or discharge connection 21. The inner housing or cage is journaled on the bushings 22 and 23 and is provided with peripheral openings 28 through which steam or other fluid passes. A

' pulley 29 may be provided on the outer end of the shaft.

The thickness of the plates or sections of the blade may be varied in accordance with the type; or size of the turbine and it will be understood J tions communicating with said rotor chamber, bushings positioned in the opposite ends of the housing concentric with the said cylindrical rotor chamber, said bushings having aligned shaft receiving openings therethrough positioned with the said shaft receiving openings eccentrically positioned in relation to the center of the cylindrical rotor chamber and with the inner ends of the bushings extended into the said cylindrical rotor chamber, a shaft journalled in said receiving openings of the bushings, a hollow cylindrical cage having a perforated outer wall positioned in said cylindrical rotor chamber and rotatably mounted on the inner extended ends of said bushings, a rotor having radially disposed blade carrying slots therein fixedly mounted on the said shaft and positioned in the said cage, a plurality of blades having elongated registering slots therethrough positioned in each of said slots of the rotor, springs in the slots of the blades held in compression .by the blades whereby the ends of the blades are urged toward the respective ends of the cage, said blades mounted for sliding reciprocating action in the slots of the rotor and with the outer edges of the blades in contact continuously with the inner peripheral surface of the cage, said rotor and shaft having radially disposed openings therethrough providing communicating means between the radially disposed blade carrying slots on the opposite sides of the rotor, and driving means on the outer end of the shaft.

F. ALDEN MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

